Real Fábrica de Tapices
The first Bourbon king Felipe V founded the royal tapestry factory in 1721 as Spain’s answer to his grandfather Louis XIV’s Gobelins Manufactory in Paris. Three centuries later, master weavers are still making beautiful tapestries and rugs on traditional handlooms. Organizing a visit requires some planning. Tours in English only go ahead if a minimum of five people have signed up—email in advance to request a slot. It’s worth the effort to get a detailed insight into techniques that date back two thousand years. Just one square meter of tapestry can take more than eight months to complete and will cost some 10,000€ to buy. You’ll also see wonderful tapestries from the factory’s own collection, created by Flemish masters from designs by Raphael, and cartoons by Goya, who worked here for more than 15 years. Real Fábrica tapestries made to his designs grace the walls of the Palacio Real and other royal residences.
The first Bourbon king Felipe V founded the royal tapestry factory in 1721 as Spain’s answer to his grandfather Louis XIV’s Gobelins Manufactory in Paris. Three centuries later, master weavers are still making beautiful tapestries and rugs on traditional handlooms. Organizing a visit requires some planning. Tours in English only go ahead if a minimum of five people have signed up—email in advance to request a slot. It’s worth the effort to get a detailed insight into techniques that date back two thousand years. Just one square meter of tapestry can take more than eight months to complete and will cost some 10,000€ to buy. You’ll also see wonderful tapestries from the factory’s own collection, created by Flemish masters from designs by Raphael, and cartoons by Goya, who worked here for more than 15 years. Real Fábrica tapestries made to his designs grace the walls of the Palacio Real and other royal residences.
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